How to Add TikTok Audio to CapCut

You’ve discovered the perfect trending sound on TikTok - it’s catchy, going viral, and exactly what your next video needs. The only problem? You want to use it in a highly polished edit that a tool like CapCut provides, away from the pressure of TikTok’s in-app editor. This guide shows you how to take any audio from TikTok and seamlessly add it to your CapCut projects. We'll cover the best methods for quality, a few pro editing tips, and the essential details you need to know about copyright.

Why Move TikTok Audio to CapCut Anyway?

Before jumping into the step-by-step process, it helps to understand why this is such a common workflow for creators. Moving audio from TikTok to CapCut isn’t just about convenience, it’s about gaining complete creative control over your final video.

• Advanced Editing Features: CapCut is a powerhouse mobile editor, offering multi-layer timelines, keyframing, advanced effects, color grading, and precise audio controls that far exceed what TikTok’s native editor can do. By bringing the audio into CapCut, you can craft a more professional and dynamic video around it.
• Escaping the Watermark: If you download a video directly from TikTok to use its sound, you’re stuck with the TikTok watermark. By extracting just the audio, you can use the sound with your own clean, original footage.
• Creating Content for Other Platforms: You might want to use a trending sound in an Instagram Reel, a YouTube Short, or on another platform. This method allows you to use that sound with video content created specifically for those channels. (We'll talk more about the copyright implications of this later!)
• Building a Sound Library: Savvy creators often save viral sounds to use later. By extracting the audio, you can build a small library on your device of popular sounds you might want to use in future projects.

The Big Picture: How It Actually Works

There isn't a magic "Send Audio to CapCut" button inside the TikTok app. The process is a workaround that involves getting a copy of the TikTok video onto your phone first, and then instructing CapCut to pull only the audio from that video file. It’s a two-step dance: save the video, then extract the audio track. The good news is that once you've done it a couple of times, it becomes second nature.

Below are the two most effective methods to get this done, one being quick and easy, and the other prioritizing the best possible audio quality.

Method 1: The Screen Recording Method (Quick & Easy)

This is the fastest way to grab audio without using any third-party websites or apps. The downside is that the audio quality might be slightly lower since it’s captured directly from your device's internal sound playback. However, for most social media videos, the difference is often unnoticeable.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Find the TikTok: Open the TikTok app and find the video containing the audio you want to use.
2. Prepare to Screen Record: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (on iPhone) or from the top (on Android) to access your control center. Locate the screen record button (it looks like a solid circle inside another circle).
3. Start Recording: Tap the screen record button. After a three-second countdown, your phone will start recording everything on your screen, including the audio playing from your device.
4. Play the TikTok Video: Go back to the TikTok app and play the video from beginning to end. Let it play fully to capture the entire sound.
5. Stop Recording: Once the sound is finished, access your control center again and tap the screen record button to stop. The screen recording will automatically save to your phone's photo library or camera roll.
6. Head Over to CapCut: Open CapCut and start a new project. Import the video clips you plan to edit.
7. Extract the Audio: In the editing timeline, tap the Audio option at the bottom. Then, select Extracted.
8. Select Your Recording: Your photo library will open. Find and select the screen recording of the TikTok video you just made.
9. Import the Sound: Tap the button that says Import sound only. CapCut will grab the audio track from your screen recording and place it as a separate layer in your timeline. You can now delete the screen recording from your phone to save space.

Method 2: The Download & Extract Method (Best Audio Quality)

This method gives you the highest quality audio because you’re downloading the original video file directly from TikTok's servers. It involves an extra step of using a third-party website, but the result is a cleaner, clearer sound for your edit.

A quick heads-up: Be cautious when using third-party downloader sites. Stick to well-known ones and be mindful of pop-up ads. Never provide personal information.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Find the TikTok & Copy the Link: Open TikTok and navigate to the video with the audio you want. Tap the Share icon (the arrow) and then select Copy Link from the options.
2. Use a TikTok Downloader Site: Open your web browser and go to a TikTok downloader service like SnapTik or sssTikTok. These sites allow you to download TikTok videos without the watermark.
3. Paste and Download: Paste the copied link into the text box on the downloader website and hit the download button. It will typically give you a few options. Choose the one to download the video MP4 file to your device. The video will save to your camera roll or downloads folder.
4. Open Your CapCut Project: Open CapCut, create a new project, and add the video clips you want to edit as you normally would.
5. Extract Audio in CapCut: Just like in the previous method, tap on Audio in the main toolbar, then select Extracted.
6. Find the Downloaded TikTok: Browse your photo library to find the video you just downloaded. Select it.
7. Import Sound Only: Tap the Import sound only button. The high-quality audio track will be placed in your timeline, perfectly separated from the video it came from.

A Serious Note on Copyright and Fair Use

Now for the important part. Just because you can add a trending TikTok sound to your video doesn't always mean you should, especially if you're a brand or using it for commercial purposes.

Most sounds trending on TikTok are from major record labels and are licensed for use exclusively within the TikTok platform. When you move that audio to another platform like Instagram or YouTube, you are technically using it without a license. This can lead to some frustrating outcomes:

• Your video's audio could be muted.
• Your video could be completely removed from the platform.
• In some cases, your account could receive a copyright strike.

For personal, non-monetized content, the risk is generally low. But for branded posts, sponsored content, or any video that promotes a product or service, it’s a big "no." To stay safe, brands and marketers should use royalty-free music from libraries like CapCut’s own commercial sound library, Epidemic Sound, or Artlist for any business-related content.

Pro-Tips for Editing with Your New Audio in CapCut

Once you’ve successfully extracted the audio, you can start making your edit really shine. Here are a few tips to elevate your video:

Sync Your Clips to the Beat

One of the best features in CapCut is automatic beat detection. Select your audio track in the timeline, swipe the bottom toolbar to the right, and tap Match cut. CapCut can automatically add beat markers (yellow dots) to the audio timeline. You can then easily trim and align your video clips to these markers for a perfectly synchronized edit.

Adjust Your Audio Levels

Your original video clips might have their own sound. Don't forget to manage it! Select your primary video clips in the timeline and tap the Volume icon. You can turn the volume of your original clips down to 0 so they don't clash with the new audio track you just added.

Create Smooth Transitions with Fades

For a pro-level touch, you can make your audio fade in at the beginning and fade out at the end. Select the audio clip, tap Fade in the bottom toolbar, and use the sliders to set the duration for both the "Fade in" and "Fade out" effect. This prevents abrupt starts and stops, making your video feel much smoother.

Final Thoughts

Adding TikTok audio to CapCut is a simple yet powerful technique that unlocks a world of creative possibilities, letting you pair viral sounds with high-quality, polished video edits. By using either the screen record or download-and-extract method, you can quickly get any sound into your project timeline and start creating standout content.

Once you’ve invested time into creating compelling video content with the perfect audio, scheduling it across all your platforms shouldn't add more stress. We built Postbase to streamline this exact process. You can upload your finished video once, tailor the captions for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok, and schedule everything from a single, clean visual calendar. It just helps you focus on creating, not just posting.